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    Ascitic Fluid Analysis

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    LohJ
    Ascitic fluid analysis examines the fluid that accumulates in the abdominal cavity due to conditions like cirrhosis and portal hypertension. A sample is obtained via paracentesis and analyzed for appearance, biochemistry, microscopy, and serum ascitic albumin gradient. The SAAG measurement distinguishes between transudative ascites caused by increased portal pressure and exudative ascites caused by inflammation or malignancy based on differences in serum and ascitic fluid albumin levels. Analysis helps determine the underlying cause and identify infection.

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    Ascitic Fluid Analysis

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    LohJ
    104 views3 pages
    Ascitic fluid analysis examines the fluid that accumulates in the abdominal cavity due to conditions like cirrhosis and portal hypertension. A sample is obtained via paracentesis and analyzed for appearance, biochemistry, microscopy, and serum ascitic albumin gradient. The SAAG measurement distinguishes between transudative ascites caused by increased portal pressure and exudative ascites caused by inflammation or malignancy based on differences in serum and ascitic fluid albumin levels. Analysis helps determine the underlying cause and identify infection.

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    geekymedics.com-Ascitic Fluid Analysis

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    Ascitic fluid analysis examines the fluid that accumulates in the abdominal cavity due to conditions like cirrhosis and portal hypertension. A sample is obtained via paracentesis and analyzed for appearance, biochemistry, microscopy, and serum ascitic albumin gradient. The SAAG measurement distinguishes between transudative ascites caused by increased portal pressure and exudative ascites caused by inflammation or malignancy based on differences in serum and ascitic fluid albumin levels. Analysis helps determine the underlying cause and identify infection.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    104 views3 pages

    Ascitic Fluid Analysis

    Uploaded by

    LohJ
    Ascitic fluid analysis examines the fluid that accumulates in the abdominal cavity due to conditions like cirrhosis and portal hypertension. A sample is obtained via paracentesis and analyzed for appearance, biochemistry, microscopy, and serum ascitic albumin gradient. The SAAG measurement distinguishes between transudative ascites caused by increased portal pressure and exudative ascites caused by inflammation or malignancy based on differences in serum and ascitic fluid albumin levels. Analysis helps determine the underlying cause and identify infection.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 3

    Ascitic Fluid Analysis

    geekymedics.com/ascitic-fluid-analysis/

    Richard Tyrrell July 2,


    2018

    What is ascites?
    Ascites is the accumulation of ascitic fluid in the peritoneal cavity.

    Many diseases can cause ascites, but the most common is portal hypertension, which is
    usually due to cirrhosis.

    Ascites does not typically become clinically detectable until there are at least 500mLs of
    fluid present.

    If large amounts of fluid accumulate, the abdomen can become very distended and
    tense, causing the patient to feel short of breath (due to diaphragmatic splinting).

    Analysis of ascitic fluid can help determine the underlying cause and identify signs of
    infection.

    A sample of fluid is typically obtained using a needle and syringe (known as an “ascitic
    tap” or “paracentesis”) and sent for analysis.

    Signs and symptoms of ascites


    Abdominal distension
    Abdominal discomfort
    Weight gain
    Shortness of breath
    Reduced appetite

    Appearance of ascitic fluid


    1/3
    Ascitic fluid appearance

    Ascitic fluid biochemistry

    Ascitic fluid biochemistry

    Ascitic fluid microscopy

    Ascitic fluid microscopy

    Serum Ascitic Albumin Gradient (SAAG)


    The Serum Ascitic Albumin Gradient (SAAG) indirectly measures portal pressure and
    can be used to determine if ascites is due to portal hypertension.

    SAAG calculation

    2/3
    SAAG = (Serum albumin) – (Ascitic fluid albumin)
    A high SAAG (>1.1g/dL) suggests the ascitic fluid is a transudate.

    A low SAAG (<1.1g/dL) suggests the ascitic fluid is an exudate.

    A high SAAG (i.e. transudate) suggests the presence of portal


    hypertension:
    Cirrhosis
    Hepatic failure
    Venous occlusion e.g. Budd Chiari syndrome
    Fulminant hepatic failure
    Alcoholic hepatitis
    Kwashiorkor malnutrition

    NB: A transudate commonly results from increased pressure in the portal vein.

    Causes of a low SAAG (i.e. exudate) include:


    Malignancy
    Infection
    Pancreatitis
    Nephrotic syndrome

    NB: An exudate commonly results from inflammation or malignancy.

    An alternative way of differentiating between an exudate and transudate is using lactate


    dehydrogenase activity (LDH), which is also measured from ascitic fluid.

    LDH <225 U/L = transudate


    LDH > 225U/ L = exudate

    This has largely been replaced by the use of SAAG.

    Editor

    Andrew Gowland

    3/3

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